ICAR-CIRB Sub Campus Nabha commemorated its 29th Foundation Day on 11th December, 2015 by organizing a Kisan Mela and KisanGosthi at Nabha Campus. Hundreds of Nili-Ravi farmers from far flung areas participated in the Mela. They expressed keen interest in elite true-to-breed Nili-Ravi buffaloes. A total of 57 buffaloes and bulls of Nili-Ravi breed were registered under different categories. Dr Rajbir Singh, Director ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana graced the occasion as Chief Guest while Dr Inderjeet Singh, Director ICAR-CIRB presided over. Competitions of Nili-Ravi under different categories were held under the supervision of Dr Sajjan Singh, Principal Scientist and Officer-Incharge Sub Campus Nabha.

Dr DS Chawala ex OIC CIRB Nabha, Dr GS Dhaliwal, Professor GADVASU, Dr AK Pandey Principal Scientist and Dr K L Mehrara, CVO acted as judges for the competitions. Prizes were distributed to the winners by Chief Guest. Chief Guest of the function and Director ATARI, Dr Rajbir Singh gave a comparative analysis of this breed of buffaloes, which is not recognized as much as it derseves and emphasised that agriculture can only be viable venture if farmers diversify in animal husbandry as well, which acts as livelihood assurance in case of natural calamities. Director ICAR-CIRB Dr Inderjeet Singh stressed on keeping superior true-to-breed Nili Ravi animals, which is emerging as another important buffalo breed that can be utilized for upgradation of non-descript buffalo population in the country. He exhorted farmers to value production and reproduction parameters for profitable buffalo husbandry and Nili-Ravi is a suitable breed, comparable to Murrah in this regard. The Institute is collaborating with Punjab Animal Husbandry Department for propagation of Nili Ravi breed through production and dissemination of high quality germplasm. He also requested farmers to keep in contact with the institute and KVKs for getting benefited by adopting scientific farming. Kisan Gosthi was addressed by Dr V B Dixit, Dr HemaTripathi, Dr Navneet Saxena and Dr A K Pandey. On this occasion trees were planted on the campus by Chief Guest and other dignitaries.